Phillies receive:
- RHP Roy Halladay (from TOR)
- RHP Phillippe Aumont (from SEA)
- RHP J.C. Ramirez (from SEA)
- OF Tyson Gillies (from SEA)
- $6 million (from TOR)
Blue Jays receive:
- RHP Kyle Drabek (from PHI)
- C Travis d’Arnaud (from PHI)
- INF Brett Wallace (from OAK)
Mariners receive:
- RHP Cliff Lee (from PHI)
Athletics receive:
- OF Michael Taylor (from TOR, after being dealt from PHI)
When I first heard about the Phils’ plans to deal Cliff Lee, I admit I was a bit disgusted. I hated the idea of trading Lee in order to get a slight upgrade (based on Lee’s performance when he joined the Phillies). Then I heard they were also dealing Kyle Drabek, and that’s I wanted Amaro instantly fired. But a Sportscenter and a few Bud Lights later, and Amaro turned from jackass to genius.
Pros and cons for the Phillies:
Pros – They get the best pitcher in baseball in Roy Halladay and they signed him to a three year $60 million contract extension with an option for a fourth year. That is a lot cheaper than what they would have had to pay Cliff Lee. In dealing Lee, they also received two top pitching prospects to replace Drabek.
Cons – They lost their “untouchable” pitching prospect in Drabek. But, it was the right move financially and it gives them a chance to win beyond this season by rebuilding the farm system.
Drabek
Pros and cons for the Blue Jays:
Pros – This is basically the reverse of the Phillies. The pro for the Jays is that they get Drabek, the guy they’ve wanted since last July. Assuming they move Overbay, Brett Wallace I would think would move from third to first when ready.
Cons – They got a lot less in return for Halladay than they could have received at the trade deadline last season. However, they would not have received Drabek.
Pros and cons for the Mariners:
Pros - They now have the best 1-2 punch in baseball with King Felix and Cliff Lee atop the rotation.
Cons – It might only be a one-year rental on the Cliff Lee train.
They way I look at it, everybody wins in this deal. Each team got what they were going after (the Jays and Drabek, the Phils and Halladay, the M’s and Lee). With that said, great move for everyone involved.
